Softball splits doubleheader, earns first win of the season
Freshman first basemen Kaila Fulker hit a walk-off double in the seventh inning against North Dakota to lift the Central Michigan softball team to a 1-0 victory Friday, giving the team its first win of the season.
The Chippewas would then drop the second game Friday to Quinnipiac, 3-0.
Game 1: North Dakota
Rachael Knapp was in full control as the senior pitcher logged 15 strikeouts and her first win of the season.
“Her rise pitch was moving really well and she did a great job of setting her batters up with that pitch as well as her other pitches,” CMU coach Margo Jonker said.
Despite Knapp's performance, Fulker was the star of the game hitting a walk-off double to give the Chippewas the win.
Junior pinch-hitter Sydney Heath got the seventh inning going when she hit a single into right field, giving the Chippewas some confidence.
Sophomore Andrea Perlberg then entered the game as a pinch-runner and stole second base moving her into scoring position. From there, Fulker's bat did the rest.
“It was a great swing and a great hit. It’s what we expected from her,” Jonker said.
The Chippewas out-hit North Dakota 6-2.
Game 2: Quinnipiac
Unlike the first game, the Chippewas were out-hit 6-4 against Quinnipiac.
Junior Hanna Warren took the loss (0-3) as she pitched four innings allowing three runs on four hits. Laura Vaccaro finished the game off giving up two hits, a walk and recorded one strikeout.
“Our pitching was good, not great," Jonker said. "Our bats were silent and that’s where it really hurt us.”
Sophomore Allison Curtis, senior Danielle Marlink, and junior Lacy Tolfree were responsible for the Chippewas' three hits.
CMU will be back in action tomorrow with games against Robert Morris (9 a.m.) and then against Massachusetts (2 p.m.).
The Chippewas will finish the weekend against Sienna at 9 a.m. Sunday.
